Spring is finally here, so we had the best excuse to throw a candlelit, slightly over-the-top birthday celebration for our daughter! Em turned 24, and we wanted the night to feel effortless yet elegant, intimate yet special—the kind of gathering that lingers long past dessert.
Instead of going the traditional birthday route, we leaned into the details that make a night feel luxurious: a moody, themed “girl dinner” with all the little indulgences. Every element was simple but thoughtfully styled, from the table setting to the bar setup to the non-traditional dessert moment (which might be my new favorite thing to serve at a dinner party).
If you’re planning a birthday, girls’ night, or just a spring gathering, here’s exactly how we pulled it off. Now you can recreate the vibe for your own celebration!
I always start every gathering with a mood board—it’s my go-to for gathering ideas, setting the tone, and making sure everything feels cohesive. It helps me visualize how all the elements will come together and keeps me from getting carried away (because, trust me, I can go down a rabbit hole of ideas fast!). Canva is my favorite tool for this—they have great templates and easy-to-use features that make pulling a vision together effortless. Fun fact: I even used a Canva template to design the party invite above!
The Décor: Soft, Dreamy & A Little Moody
A Baby’s Breath Dream
If you’ve been here a while, you already know my obsession with these Amazon hurricane vases. But this time? I used them in a whole new way—stuffed full of baby’s breath and placed along the top shelf of the bar for a dreamy, cloud-like effect.
It took TEN bundles from Trader Joe’s (yes, I counted) to get this super full, airy look, but oh my god, it was worth it.
If you ever need an affordable floral moment that feels high-end, baby’s breath is it. It lasts forever, looks expensive, and works for literally any aesthetic/theme.
Silver & White Everything
I wanted the whole party to feel cohesive and chic, so I went all-in on a silver and white color palette—think silver trays, silver platters, silver martini picks, and a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner that pulled everything together.
Silver accents are my go-to because they reflect light beautifully and instantly make a tablescape feel fancier.
The Candle Moment That Stole the Show
If there’s one thing I love about hosting, it’s making the smallest details feel high impact. And, for this party, that moment was this innovative candle display. Instead of using traditional candle holders, I took one of my vintage-inspired silver trays, lit these skinny taper candles, and let the wax drip until they stuck directly onto the tray.
The Menu: A “Girl Dinner” Dream
When we decided on a girl dinner theme, I wanted the food to feel indulgent but easy—little bites, shareable plates, and a mix of fancy meets casual. And, of course, everything had to look beautiful on the table.
Crispy Fries + Homemade Aioli
Because nothing says “girl dinner” like a mountain of crispy fries served on a silver tray! Confession: I used frozen “restaurant style” french fries … but I made a homemade garlic aioli (which is just a fancy way of saying mayo, garlic, lemon, and a little olive oil). Super easy and elevated the whole thing.
Oyster & Caviar Bar
I had a vision of an oyster and caviar bar—a total splurge but so worth it! We served freshly shucked oysters on crushed ice with lemon wedges and mignonette.
Clouz Houz tip: Whole Foods will shuck your oysters and package them for you over ice. And these were only $2 per oyster. Thank me later for this life hack 😂
For the caviar, I set out a bowl of sea salt potato chips, crème fraîche, diced hard-boiled egg, red onion and chives so everyone could build their own bites. Again, all displayed on silver trays so it would feel extra special. Can’t forget an adorable mother of pearl spoon as a bougie addition to serve your caviar.
The Easiest “Cake” Ever
Since traditional birthday cake has never been Em’s thing, we went with something that felt lighter, fresher, and a little more her—a take on her all-time favorite dessert, Boccone Dolce. If you’re from Portland, you know the Papa Haydn version. It’s legendary. It’s one of those desserts that feels indulgent but not heavy, and I swear it tastes even better when eaten straight from the fridge the next morning.
Since I wasn’t about to attempt making meringue from scratch in the middle of prepping for a party, Trader Joe’s mini meringues were a lifesaver. They’re already perfectly crisp and lightly sweet, so all I had to do was stack them into a tower, layering homemade whipped cream between each one to hold everything together. Here’s some details:
- For the whipped cream, I kept it super simple—heavy cream, a touch of vanilla, and powdered sugar—whipped until soft peaks formed. It needed to be just thick enough to hold its shape, but still soft enough to melt into the meringues.
- Then came the berries. Em loves raspberries the most, so I made sure they were everywhere, along with strawberries and blackberries for contrast. I gently pressed them into the layers of cream so they’d stay put, and then scattered a few extras around the base.
- The final touch? A generous dusting of powdered sugar. And these sparkler candles? Oh. My. Gosh. They made the whole moment feel so festive and extra—exactly what a birthday celebration should be!
As someone who usually stresses over making things perfect, this was a reminder that sometimes the simplest ideas end up being the most special.
The Bar Setup: Martini Station & Bubbly on Ice
Extra Dirty Martinis (Or Nothing at All)
Em takes her martinis very seriously—to the point where she will literally refuse to order one if a place doesn’t have bleu cheese stuffed olives. I wish I were joking. It’s her one non-negotiable. So, naturally, we hand-stuffed our own olives to make sure her extra dirty martinis were exactly how she likes them.
I set up the ultimate martini bar using silver trays — there’s just something about a silver tray that just makes any drink setup feel chic. We had everything set out for a help-yourself style bar. Vintage etched martini glasses (here’s a similar option, or these for wine) and an entire bowl of olives made it extra special. Speaking of olives, I consider these cocktail picks to be a necessity for making your martini shine a little extra.
The Prettiest Bubbly Bar
For those who aren’t feeling a martini, make sure to have a self-serve bubbly bar ready to go. I filled an oversized silver champagne bucket with sparkling water, champagne, and prosecco, so everything was pre-chilled and easy to grab. It’s a simple thing, but it makes a huge difference when hosting!
Something that I ordered but didn’t come in time: this fabulous clam shell inspired ice bucket. Don’t you think something like this is perfectly festive for a spring party? How fun!!
Bows, Bows, & More Bows
Okay, I may have gotten a little carried away with the bow theme, but I stand by my decision. I tied 1/4-inch satin ribbon bows around the stems of each martini glass, and let me tell you—it was a cute and easy detail that made the whole setup feel super thoughtful.
Bows weren’t just for the glasses, though—I added them to the silver trays, bar accessories, and even the handles of the ice bucket. It was such a simple way to tie everything together (pun fully intended), and it made the entire bar feel girly, classic, and slightly over-the-top … in the best way possible.
The Table Setting: Simple & Elegant
The Layered Silver Tray Trick
The silver trays were the unsung hero of this entire tablescape. You can stack them, layer them, use them for displaying candles, and even let a few sit empty, just to add texture and reflect candlelight. Try adding doilies for a dainty & girly look!
A Soft, Neutral Base
To let all the silver and candlelight shine, I laid down a creamy ivory tablecloth as the foundation. It was timeless, soft, and simple, letting all the textures and details do the work.
Fashion Inspo
Anything white would obviously be fitting for this theme. I wore this balloon-sleeved blouse with little embroidered flowers … so sweet. My favorite newest treat to myself is this pewter sparkle clutch. Silver goes with absolutely any outfit, trust me — and it’s so fun and festive for a celebration/party! Em rocked this pleated ivory skirt and blouse set with silver chrome sling-backs.
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A Birthday Night to Remember
This party was so Em—simple, chic, a little extra, and absolutely perfect. We stayed up way too late, had the best laughs, and ended the night with martinis and a dance party … because what’s a birthday without some great music?
I loved how this party came together, and it just proves that hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s all about small, thoughtful details that make your guests feel special. Whether you’re throwing a birthday, a bridal shower, or just a spring dinner party, I highly recommend stealing some of these ideas.
If you want to shop the exact pieces I used, I’ve linked everything below. And if you love hosting tips, styling ideas and curated finds, follow along on LTK. Also, sign up for our newsletter—I share exclusive hosting ideas, styling tips, and all the pieces that are selling out fast!
Here’s to spring entertaining and making every little moment feel special! 🌟
